07.01.11
While agave is probably best known as the plant from which tequila is made, interest continues to rise for its use as a sweetener in the form of agave nectar, or agave syrup, according to Innova Market Insights, The Netherlands. Agave only made up about 3% of the sugar and sweetener launches recorded globally on the Innova Database in the 12 months to the end of March 2011, but there was a noticeable increase in interest in the U.S. market in particular, where the number of launches doubled over the same period, although from a relatively small base. In addition, Innova Market Insights recorded that agave was increasingly used as a sweetener ingredient in a wide range of product launches, including soft drinks, sauces, cereals and confectionery.
